The evolution of suction beneath plate anchors under uplift loading
The evolution of suction beneath plate anchors under uplift loading
The growing demand for floating offshore wind energy necessitates advancements in anchoring solutions. Improving anchor capacity predictions by advancing our understanding of suction force generated beneath anchors is crucial for reducing foundation costs in this evolving sector. The suction force generated beneath anchors has often been overlooked in design for oil and gas facilities due to high uncertainties and estimation challenges. This study employs finite element (FE) analysis to examine the evolution of negative excess pore pressure beneath an anchor embedded in saturated, porous elastic soil under uplift loading, assuming no gap formation beneath the anchor. The accuracy of the model is validated by comparison with analytical solutions for the one-dimensional uplift of surface foundations. The effects of loading rate, soil permeability, and soil stiffness on excess pore pressure generation beneath a buried strip anchor are analysed. Additionally, the time duration for which the suction force remains effective before a gap forms beneath the anchor is determined. Finally, the suction force is quantified by integrating the negative excess pore pressure and is considered a contributor to anchor capacity.
Quanzhen Chen; Yifa Wang; Yinghui Tian; Mark Jason Cassidy
5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics (ISFOG2025)
12 - Gravity base foundations, Drag and Plate Anchors
https://doi.org/10.53243/ISFOG2025-524
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